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Wayne Rooney reckons Ravel Morrison was 'better than Paul Pogba by a country mile' during their days in Manchester United's youth ranks.

Former United star Rooney has recalled how he once saw a young Morrison nutmeg imperious defender Nemanja Vidic three times in a minute in training.

But the 34-year-old says the difference in the two players' career trajectories since then shows that talent will only get you so far - with hard work crucial to success, too.

Pogba left United for Juventus, but was brought back to Old Trafford for a world record £89million following a trophy-laden spell in Turin.

Although he has been injured for most of this season, the World Cup winner is being courted by Real Madrid, PSG and his old club Juve.

Ravel Morrison (far right) was way ahead of Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba as a youngster, according to Wayne Rooney (Image: Man Utd via Getty Images)

Morrison, meanwhile, is on loan at Middlesbrough from Sheffield United - the 11th club of the 27-year-old's career.

"I remember watching Ravel Morrison thinking he had everything required for a player in his position," Rooney wrote in his Sunday Times column.

"He nutmegged Nemanja Vidic three times in the space of a minute in one training game.

"But he struggled with lifestyle and his environment which was sad for him - because I saw Paul Pogba come through, Jesse Lingard, all these players and Ravel was better than any of them by a country mile.

"He's proof that you can't escape the fact there are guidelines every player has to obey in professional football.

"Then you think how far you can go by being ultra-professional. Gary Neville, for instance. Gary's not a great football player but he worked in every minute of every training session and made the most of everything he had.

"Sir Alex Ferguson used to say the hardest thing in life is to work hard every day. Forget all your ability, strip everything back: if you can work hard every day, in whatever job you do you'll be successful."